by Misty Boyd
“I know.” Sarah sighed. “I just wish there was something we could do besides making her go through all this again.”
“We can love her and be there for her. That’s what she needs from us.” He put his arm around her slumping shoulders. “We can’t fix it, but we can be there and be strong for her. She may have to do this, but she doesn’t have to do it alone.”
“You’re right. She’s not alone.”
Chapter 24
Isaac woke up early for class. A new nurse was finally coming, and he’d have to show her the ropes before heading out that morning. Carissa was all he could think about, though. Was she okay? Should he have offered to go with her to the appointment? Were they there in their relationship yet? He didn’t want to push, but he wanted to be there for her. This relationship stuff was way harder than College Algebra. But it was also proving much more rewarding.
At almost 11:00, Isaac still hadn’t heard from Carissa. Her appointment was at 8 o’clock. Surely she was done by now. He wasn’t sure why she hadn’t called. He debated whether to call, but decided against it. He would text instead. Maybe that would be easier for her.
“Hey. Just thinking about you. Hope everything went okay. Would like to see you soon.” He waited for a response, but none came.
All of this must be so hard for her. Always being the guinea pig… never knowing when her health would fail her… just living life, and then BAM! Spina bifida. He wished he could fix it for her so they could be back in the food court, not studying Algebra over coffee and muffins. He’d do anything to have that back.
For now though, he went to talk to the other woman in his life. He found her in the kitchen, getting a glass of water. Isaac always made sure at least an entire place setting was down out of the cabinets for her, so she didn’t always have to ask for help reaching things.
“Hey, Ma,” he called out to her as he took a seat at the brown wooden table that had been in their kitchen for as long as he could remember. He had carved his name into it once as a boy, and had gotten his rear end torn up for it when he’d proudly shown it off to his mother. He ran his fingers over the exact spot now and giggled at the memory.
“Hi, baby,” she said, taking a long drink of her water and joining him at the table. “Have you heard from Carissa yet?”
“No. I guess she’s still at the hospital. Or maybe she just doesn’t want to talk. Do you think she’s okay?”
“I think she’ll talk when she’s ready to talk. You just be there when she is.” She reached out and pulled his hand into hers.
“I will. I know this must be so hard for her, and I don’t know how much to be involved at this point, or whether to back off. I want to be there for her, but I don’t want to push, ya know?” He leaned back in his chair, still holding his mom’s hand. He ran his fingers over the top of his head, letting out a long breath.
“I know, baby. Just let her lead. Let her know you’re there. She’ll come to you for comfort if she needs you. You really like this girl, don’t you?”
“I do, Ma. I really do.” He got up from the table and poured a glass of water for himself. He leaned against the white kitchen counter. “She’s something. It’s important to me that I do right by her.”
“Baby, like I told you before, you just be the man I know you can be. You’ll be all right.”
Chapter 25
Carissa sat on her bed, thinking of ways to tell Isaac she’d be out of the dating scene for a while. Could she ask him to wait for her? Was that fair? Or should she just tell him to move on and find a girl without so much baggage?
She didn’t want to put him through this. This was her problem. He hadn’t signed up for a “sick” girlfriend who might need regular procedures for the rest of her life. He had signed up for a pre-law student with a future ahead of her, who liked to eat chocolate chip muffins while pretending to study Algebra. Surgery was surely not part of his romantic plans for them.
Her phone buzzed and knocked her out of her thoughts. It was him. He was thinking about her, probably wondering why she didn’t call. He wanted to see her soon.
Why did he insist on being so amazingly present? Should she call him? She probably should. This was so hard, though. He did not deserve this. He deserved a girl who could go out and do things with him. This was the beginning of their relationship. Things should be easier. He shouldn’t have to put up with this so soon.
She decided to call. He deserved to know what was going on. He could decide for himself whether he would hang in there with her. Part of her hoped he would. Part of her hoped, for his sake, that he would just hit the road. She pressed the button to call him.
It didn’t take long for him to answer, and she rushed into what she wanted to say. “Hey, it’s Carissa. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. Rough day,” she blurted out. “Look, I got scheduled for surgery. It’s soon. Friday. I’ll understand if you just want to take a break until I’m past all this, or even just break it off altogether. You didn’t sign up for this.”
“What? What are you talking about? Break it off?” Isaac asked. “Carissa, I knew when I met you that we may run into some things. I’m not running from this. I told you I’d be there with muffins on your couch. I wasn’t just talking to hear myself talk. I want to be with you. ALL of you! The muffin parts, the part that hates math, the surgery part. All of you. I don’t burn off at the first sign of a challenge.
“My dad did that to my mom,” he went on, “and I won’t be that man. I understood when I approached you that first day that we might have issues that other couples don’t. I did sign up for this, and I don’t plan on signing off, unless you run me off and, last I checked, you kind of suck at running. You’re not getting away!”
“Um… well… Okay then. Mom wanted to know if you wanted to come for dinner tonight. Do you like turkey burgers?” she asked.
“So far, I like anything that comes out of your mama’s kitchen. I’ll be there.”
“Great,” she said. “I’ll let her know. We can discuss the surgery over dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said, excitement in his voice. “I’m looking forward to it.”
After they hung up, Carissa went out to tell Sarah, trying to decide how she was feeling. Isaac sure was starting to sound like he really wanted to stick around. Could he really be this good? She wasn’t sure, but she was running out of reasons to doubt him.
“Hey, Mom,” she said, wheeling into the kitchen where her mom was prepping for dinner. “I talked to Isaac, and he wants a burger. He’ll be here for dinner.”
“Great,” Sarah answered, turning to face Carissa. “Four burgers, coming up! Do you guys want fries or onion rings?”
“Oh! Onion rings sound great!” Carissa said.
“You got it,” Sarah told her, bending down to get an onion out of the refrigerator. “Are you feeling better about everything?”
“Yeah, kinda. It’s still scary, though. I guess we just get through it like everything else.” Carissa grabbed a butcher knife out of the drawer to help cut the onion.
“Yep. That’s my girl!” Sarah beamed at her daughter, pride sticking out all over her. “You get through everything just fine, once you get past yourself. Your dad and I know you’ll do great.”
“Only because I have you guys.” Carissa grinned back at Sarah.
“Sweetie, you’ll always have us behind you, no matter what comes.” She handed the onion over to Carissa.
“I know, Mom.” Carissa finished chopping the onion and said, “I’m going to go get ready for Isaac to come. Clean my room and shower. I’ll be back.”
“Okay, honey. See you around dinner time.”
Chapter 26
“Jim, Isaac is coming over for dinner tonight,” Sarah said, walking into the living room where Jim sat watching television. “I invited him. Try to wear something besides your bath robe.”
“Ha! He only gets to be a guest once,” Jim laughed, eyes still fixed on the baseball game he was watching. “This time he gets the
full Schultz welcome. You should wear curlers in your hair.”
“Jim!” Sarah was annoyed and amused at the same time.
“What? Tell me you don’t want to embarrass the girl a little… lighten things up around here. It’s been a rough week.” Jim stood up and put his hands on his hips, an impish grin on his face.
“All the more reason to act like humans when her boyfriend comes over,” Sarah told him, coming over to put her arms around his waist.
“Did she call him that? Boyfriend? Is he her boyfriend?” Jim asked, embracing her.
“I don’t know, Jim,” she replied. “I don’t even know if they know, but I know he kissed her on the porch the other night when he brought her home from the movie.”
“Kissed her? Wow. In my book, that makes him the boyfriend. At least he better be!” Sarah felt his chest tighten under her grip.
“Well, it’s really not our business. He’s a nice kid. Let them work it out.” She held him tighter, trying to tame the beast.
“Uh-huh.” Jim replied.
“Jim.”
“Yeah, I got you. Let them work it out. I won’t say anything.”
It wasn’t long before Isaac was knocking on the door. Jim let go of Sarah and went to answer it. “Hey, Isaac, come on in,” Jim said. “I’ll go get Carissa.”
“Thank you, sir.” Isaac stepped through the door. “Nice to see you again.”
* * *
Jim went to get Carissa for dinner, and Isaac went into the kitchen to greet Sarah and see if she needed any help finishing dinner. “Can I do anything, Mrs. S?” he asked.
“Sure, Isaac, so nice of you to ask.” She handed him a tomato and a knife. “You can slice this while I finish up these onion rings.”
“Sounds like a plan!” Isaac got to cutting. “So how’s Carissa doing with all of this? Is she okay? It took her a long time to call me today after her appointment.”
“She’s all right, Isaac,” Sarah said, adding seasoning to the onions in her bowl. “She just has her process. She gets depressed when something comes up then, before long, she’s back on the horse. It has nothing to do with you. Please know that. She really likes you. She’s just not used to having a boy around who cares so much.”
“Oh, I care,” he said. “I care a lot. She’s really special. I just want her to be okay.”
“She will be. Her father and I will be there for her through the whole thing, and I know it would mean a lot if you showed up some, too, just to take her mind off things.” She patted him on the back.
“I’ll be around as much as you and Mr. S will allow, ma’am.” He smiled at her.
“That’s good. She’ll need a friend. Recovery from surgery is long and boring. I’ll buy plenty of popcorn for you guys to eat while you watch movies on the couch. It’s not a date, and you won’t get to kiss her if her dad has anything to say about it, but it’s something.” She gave him a knowing eye.
Isaac could feel his cheeks get hot. Had she seen them the other night on the porch? “Well, something with Carissa, even if it’s not a date, is better than anything without Carissa. I’ll take it.”
“Good man,” Sarah said.
Just then, Carissa and Jim came into the kitchen.
“Hey, Isaac!”
Isaac greeted Carissa with a hug―a “friend” hug. “Hey, are you doing okay? Your mom says we can have popcorn fights on the couch after your surgery.”
“Well, hearing that, I’m about seventy-five percent better!” Carissa grinned.
“Good!” Isaac looked pleased at himself. “That’s what I’m here for.”
“Well, that and delicious turkey burgers, right?” Sarah piped in.
“Yes, ma’am. Those, too!”
“Everybody sit down,” she said. “I’ll bring them out.”
Sarah went back into the kitchen, and the sounds of a drawer opening and silverware clinking were followed by her returning with a platter full of burgers on buns and a bowl of onion rings that smelled delicious. She put the food in the center of the table.
Everyone sat, and Jim said the blessing. When he was done, Isaac asked, “So, surgery on Friday. I was wondering, if you guys don’t mind, could I come? I don’t want to impose, or place myself where I don’t belong, but I’d really like to be there for Carissa if that’s okay with you, Mr. and Mrs. Schultz.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Carissa responded.
“I want to,” he insisted. “This is not a thing I feel like I have to do. I want to be there for you.”
“Okay, but it’s boring.” She shrugged, looking at him with surprise.
“I like boring,” Isaac told her. “Mr. Schultz, is it okay if I come and hang around?”
“Sure, Isaac. That’s fine. We’ll pick you up that morning. It’ll be early, probably around 5:30 a.m.” Jim replied.
“Works for me. As long as I’m not sitting around waiting for a phone call all day. I don’t think I could handle not knowing what was up.”
They passed around the food and began to eat, talking about Carissa’s upcoming surgery and Isaac’s classes. Dinner was finished quickly.
“It must have been good, huh?” Sarah started to collect dishes from the table. “I didn’t hear a peep out of anyone the whole meal!”
“Yes, ma’am, it was outstanding,” Isaac replied, wiping his face with a napkin.
“It was great, hon,” Jim paid a compliment to his wife.
“So good, Mom,” chimed Carissa.
“Well, everybody help me clean up, and maybe we’ll play a board game in the living room. Hey, we have four. Maybe teams!”
Everyone agreed, and got to cleaning up. Sarah rinsed the dishes, then handed them to Carissa, who placed them in the dishwasher. Jim and Isaac cleared the rest of the table of condiments and minimal leftovers.
Team charades, guys against girls, was a hit. At one point, Isaac impersonated a chicken with its head cut off by running around in circles, hacking at his own neck. He had everyone laughing hysterically, but Jim didn’t get it and they lost that round. Carissa managed to win a round for the girls by pretending her wheelchair was a horse for “Horse and Rider.” Sarah and Carissa won by two points in the end.
“Team Lady Schultz for life. Yeah, baby!” Sarah yelled, jumping up and down in victory.
“She’s not competitive at all,” Carissa said, throwing a pillow that Sarah deftly caught.
“I can tell,” replied Isaac, grinning.
“Yeah, these girls are the reigning champs of just about every guys-on-girls game ever played here in the Schultz house. Of course, it doesn’t help that I’m usually the only guy,” Jim admitted.
“Well, it looks like all I did was contribute to their winning streak,” replied Isaac.
Carissa’s dad laughed out loud. “They’re tough competition. The guys will prevail someday.”
“Yes, sir!” And Isaac hoped Carissa would keep him around for that day. He was starting to like her family as much as he liked her. He looked at the clock and rose from his seat. “Well, I have to get home and take care of my mom. She’ll be waiting up for me, and I need to see how her new nurse is working out. Carissa, do you want to walk me out?”
Carissa looked up at him with a smile. “Sure!”
Once they were alone, Isaac leaned down and kissed her, without asking this time. He lingered on her lips for a moment without moving. Then he straightened and said, “Goodnight, Carissa. I didn’t want to do that in front of your dad, and this may be the last chance I get to do it for a while without him watching. I won’t do it with him watching. I’m not trying to get punched.”
“Goodnight, Isaac,” she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck for a quick hug. “I’ll see you Friday, if not before.”
* * *
Carissa sat on the front porch for a bit, just taking everything in. Here she was, about to have this huge surgery and, for the first time since Kayla died, she would have someone besides her parents in her corner. It felt good. Isaa
c felt good in general.
Kissing Isaac wasn’t so bad, either.
She went back inside to find her parents snuggling on the couch watching a movie. She turned down the hall and went to do her nighttime routine. “I’m headed to bed, lovebirds. Goodnight.”
“Lovebirds? Look who’s talking!” Sarah replied.
“Goodnight, Carissa,” Jim said. “Tell that boy I know what he’s up to on that porch. I was a boy once, too.”
Carissa felt her cheeks heat up as she headed to her room.
Sarah’s voice followed her. “Go to bed, Carissa. I’ll handle Dad.”
She left before Sarah could change her mind.
Chapter 27
Isaac drove home that night, excited about what the future might hold. He was really starting to feel at home with the Schultzs. Mr. Schultz was kind of hard on him, but he understood. Carissa was a special girl, and he didn’t want her hurt.
Isaac didn’t want her hurt, either. He hoped he never did anything to hurt her. Whatever happened, he wanted her happy. He thought about her surgery on Friday, and wondered what it would be like to see her in a hospital bed. That would be rough. She was always so active, and mostly perky. Seeing her lying in pain was definitely going to be different, and probably painful, but he’d do it. He was pretty sure he would do anything for her. He’d never felt this way about a girl before. He was hooked and he knew it would be hard, but he honestly couldn’t wait to be stuck on the couch with her for a few weeks, bringing her soup. Anything she was involved in sounded like a good time.
Isaac arrived home just in time to see the new nurse pull out of the driveway. She waved as she saw him pull in. Isaac waved back, parked, and made his way up the driveway to the ramp that was his mother’s way into the house. He opened the glass-paned door and walked into the house, through the dark living room with the ugly red sofa they’d owned for too many years. The television was off, as were all the lights in the house.
Inside her bedroom, he found his mom, nicely tucked into bed.
